Lauryn Hill Sued by Trombone Player Over Non-Payment

More money problems

Lauryn Hill? Money troubles? Why we never.

The embattled rapper and R&B singer is heading back to court over accusations that she failed to pay somebody. This time it’s not the federal government but a trombone player who claims that he’s owed money for studio time and a breached contract.

According to TMZ Lauryn is being sued by Matthew Hartnett, who claims he laid some tracks down for Hill over the summer. The sessions went so well that Hartnett said Lauryn’s team offered him a touring contract. Hartnett said that he was fired before the tour started, but is owed a kill fee of at least half of the contract. He also said that he was never paid for his studio time.

In the lawsuit that also names Hill’s manager and touring company, Hartnett is asking for $4,000 for his studio time and $11,521.60 overall.

Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

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Where Is She?

Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

In spite of releasing a string of hits with The Fugees ― and one of the best albums of the ‘90s on her own ― Hill has found herself in financial trouble before.

Prosecutors went after her for tax evasion claiming that she owed an “outstanding tax liability to the state of New Jersey, for a total income of approximately $2.3 million and total tax loss of approximately $1,006,517.” The courts agreed, Hill was sentenced to prison where she ended up serving three months.

Given her seeming money troubles, you’d think that Ms. Hill would maybe drop a long-awaited follow-up to her lone solo effort. But other members of the Fugees have explained that Hill won’t just do things for the money. Pras told VLADTV that Miseducation of Lauryn Hill has never received a companion album because Lauryn simply can’t force it.

“She just felt uninspired,” Pras said. “I’m going to say this to you. Some people money is a driving force for them. For her, money isn’t a driving force for her. If she had a billion dollars, if she had one dollar she would’ve done it the exact same way.”

What Do You Think?

Source : Instagram @ms_laurynhill

He added that that same energy was true during her time in The Fugees, and it’s not just a solo-Lauryn venture. He continued, saying:

“When she says she wasn’t… she’s been uninspired, she means that. This is a woman who she has to feel inspired to create, and if she doesn’t feel inspired she’s not going to create. Because that’s what she gets her source of energy from. When we did The Score we were inspired from what was happening. You talking Snoop, Pac, Jay, Biggie, Total; you had so much great s**t happening that we were like we want to get in that game. Let’s bring something to the game. Let’s bring the refugee Fugees style to the table.”

All that seems pretty honorable. But if it’s keeping you from paying your studio musicians, you should probably find a way to scrape together some dollars. We say this also with a fair bit of acknowledgement that we selfishly want Lauryn Hill to come out with another Miseducation and absolutely wreck us for another decade.

Check out the story over at TMZ. What do you think? Do you think Lauryn stiffed this studio musician? Sound off in the comments and be sure to SHARE this article.